Researchers from the Slovak environmental organization BROZ have identified a newly described species of false scorpion in the French Polynesian archipelago. The arthropod has been classified as Olpium caputi, named to honor the current President of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová. The discovery is documented in the scientific journal ZooKeys, contributing a fresh chapter to the biodiversity records of the Pacific islands.
False scorpions, also known as pseudoscorpions, are a group of tiny arachnids. Their name comes from the appearance of their front legs, which resemble grasping claws similar to true scorpions. Despite their resemblance, pseudoscorpions are very small—typically about 2 to 3 millimeters in length—and pose no threat to humans. They play a subtle yet important role in ecosystems, often acting as natural predators of microinvertebrates and helping regulate moisture-loving microfauna in leaf litter and mossy habitats.
Olpium caputi was collected during a moss exploration at an elevation of approximately 1,450 meters on Mont Marau, a peak in the Tahiti region. The finding adds to the growing list of high-altitude invertebrate diversity in French Polynesia, underscoring the archipelago as a region with rich and perhaps underexplored natural history.
The decision to name the new species after a female leader reflects a broader commitment to highlighting women in science and leadership roles. In many parts of the world, including today, female scientists and senior professionals remain underrepresented in some fields. The researchers noted that the combination of the species’ rarity, its unique geographic setting, and the fact that the organism is a female-shaped exemplar contributed to the naming choice as a tribute to courage and perseverance among women in science. This context helps frame Olpium caputi not only as a taxonomic addition but also as a symbol of ongoing progress in gender representation within the scientific community.
Morphologically, Olpium caputi measures about three millimeters in body length. Its discovery represents the fifth confirmed pseudoscorpion species recorded from the islands of French Polynesia, highlighting the region as a hotspot for arachnid diversity and a potential indicator of ecological diversity across island ecosystems. The ongoing cataloging of such tiny arthropods informs biologists about patterns of colonization, habitat specialization, and the resilience of microhabitats in a changing climate.
Earlier botanical and zoological surveys in the broader Pacific have revealed a suite of novel invertebrate species, including parasitic wasps and other minute arthropods, which together enrich the understanding of island biogeography. The Olpium caputi finding adds a new data point to researchers studying isolation, dispersal, and niche partitioning on remote archipelagos. It also aids conservation planning by documenting species that rely on mossy, shaded microhabitats at higher elevations, where environmental pressures may be accelerating in some regions. In this light, the discovery is not just about taxonomy; it contributes to the broader narrative of life that thrives in understated, hidden corners of the natural world and the ways scientists document it for future study.
As more expeditions migrate into previously surveyed or underexplored terrains, the pace of discovery is likely to rise. The Olpium caputi record underscores the value of meticulous fieldwork—paying attention to moss beds, leaf litter, and microhabitat textures at altitude. It also demonstrates how collaborations across regions can illuminate the shared patterns of biodiversity across oceanic islands. Ongoing surveys and careful specimen curation will help determine how widespread this species is, its ecological relationships, and how it may respond to environmental changes in French Polynesia and the wider Pacific region. The story of Olpium caputi serves as a reminder that even the smallest creatures can carry significant scientific and symbolic weight, enriching our understanding of the world’s biodiversity and the people who work to uncover it. (BROZ researchers, reported in ZooKeys)